By Our Love of Pastries

[Lynette Chevalier]

"Part of me feels like I might've doomed myself by finding this place, accidental as it was."

Her dread mumbled with no real bite under her breath, Lynette continued to scan through the selections available. Luckily this time her entrance was not nearly as horrifyingly dramatic as her first time into the store. She was dressed thickly and thankfully dry this time. She tapped her lips as she went over the different pastries, staying out of line for others to pass her. Her eyes were instinctively drawn to the different muffins offered on the menu, and she had to crack a smile.

"Olivier would chuckle now to see me once again fulfilling my 'muffin addiction' as he so elegantly put it." She mumbled to herself. "I still think it's nonsense." She started before halting for a moment. "Well, mostly."

Whether or not her brother was correct, Lynette still searched for something to fill her appetite. However she only became aware of a person standing next to her after she had shifted on her feet and accidentally bumped them. Immediately she snapped her attention from the menu to whomever she had made contact with.

"Oh sorry! Didn't mean to bump into you. I'm just trying to go through the menu." She stated before giggling slightly. "And failing, if I'm going to be honest. I don't know what I want yet and I've been here for a few minutes now."

Once again Lynette found her mouth simply taking over as she chatted to this random stranger. Once the realization hit her she blushed lightly, her cheeks gaining a bit of a red hue.

"Oh I'm horribly sorry! I tend to be a chatterbox with strangers without meaning it. It's a dreadful habit."

Her apology made, Lynette glanced back at the menu for a moment, thinking.

"Although perhaps you could help me with a suggestion? Anything would be good, although I confess I love muffins of any sort. I'm relatively new to this shop and simply don't know what to order."

[Selina Taylor]

Selina loved the bakery and the warm chocolate brownies and pastries had her weak for more. She had to watch how often she came here… and she came far more often than she should, but she couldn’t help it. The draw of chocolate had always been strong and she loved the rich dark flavor. It was something that she couldn’t seem to get enough of. The fact that she could afford to come here as often as she pleased certainly didn’t help either.

Selina was absorbed in the beautifully presented sweets and delicacies, trying to decide what she wanted when she felt someone next to her… literally. She turned, instantly on edge, as Selina had never been good with surprise contact, but when she saw the beautiful red head who was apologizing, Selina grinned and her expression instantly softened, “No worries, I was doing the same. Everything looks so good here, it’s difficult to choose,” Selina agreed easily.

At her second apology, Selina merely chuckled, “No need to apologize, I certainly never mind talking with such gorgeous strangers,” she added with a grin as she glanced back at the display.

Selina then smiled warmly and shook her head at Lynette’s question, “I’m afraid I’m terribly biased. In terms of muffins here, I always choose the double dark chocolate chip. I have a great weakness for dark chocolate you see, so I’m no good for an impartial opinion,” she offered. “Chocolate’s also supposedly an aphrodisiac, if that influences you either way,” she added with a playful smirk. “Perhaps it’ll help warm you up in more ways than one?” She couldn’t resist.

Selina almost felt bad for being so forward in a mere muffin shop, but part of her was still as reckless as ever. She didn't feel so contrite that she missed the tray of fresh brownies from the oven making their way out to the display. Her decision was made for her. And the sign said flavored with espresso... Oh god, she was in heaven. "I'll have one of those fresh espresso brownies please," she said to the woman behind the counter. "And a glass of whole milk." What could she say? It was one of the best combos possible.

[Lynette Chevalier]

”It really is.”

It was far too easy for Lynette to agree as she looked over the menu with a smile. Although it wasn’t much helping her in her decision, she could still appreciate the sheer amount of options they offered.

“I’m afraid I’m terribly biased. In terms of muffins here, I always choose the double dark chocolate chip. I have a great weakness for dark chocolate you see, so I’m no good for an impartial opinion.”

Lynette found herself giggling a little at the other girl’s bias for chocolate. She herself was not as wild for that, but she could see the girl’s suggestion was particularly tempting to try.

“Chocolate’s also supposedly an aphrodisiac, if that influences you either way. Perhaps it’ll help warm you up in more ways than one?”

Selina’s words combined with the playful wink were enough to send a wave of heat curling up into Lynette’s cheeks. She knew she’d never been very good against flirtations, but the fact her face felt like it’d been sunburned only served to embarrass her further. She was partially glad the other woman was focused on ordering so she could collect herself. She wasn’t aware of what Selina ordered, but because of the girl’s suggestion Lynette had only one thing in mind to buy. Although she knew she was only buying it to fill her stomach rather than to “warm her up” in any other way. She stepped up the counter once it was her turn.

”I’ll have the double dark chocolate chip muffin and some water please.”

By the time her order came out, Lynette’s blush had died down to a much more manageable peach. She turned to the girl who’d helped her with her choice and offered a smile.

”Thank you again for helping me decide. I feel like I could’ve been here for an hour if without your suggestion.” Lynette admitted with a soft giggle before her blush increase just a tad. “I’m also,” She paused to find the right word, ”Impressed you knew that about chocolate.” She smiled a little more before realizing something. ”Oh! My name’s Lynette. Sorry I didn’t offer that at first.”